London 2012 Olympics: What you really want at closing ceremony

Brazilian Alessandro Ambrosio, who has been in Britain rehearsing for her part in Sunday’s grand finale, described the segment crafted by Rio 2016 as “a lot of fun”.

Being part of the Rio 2016 segment gives her “goosebumps” she said, adding: “I have been doing a lot of rehearsal so my highlight has been to mix with everybody.

“There are about 300 people from Brazil plus all the people who are participating in the closing ceremony. We were doing the show with the Spice Girls and everybody.” Organisers from the Rio 2016 Games, the next host city, have an eight-minute slot in the London closing ceremony which acts as a taster of the things to come.

A lively mix of music, dance and culture has been offered including big name stars and characters from Brazil.

Renato Sorriso, a street sweeper who has become an international hit after his impromptu samba dances captured the imagination, is part of the line-up. He is a symbol of Rio de Janeiro’s famous carnival. There is a rapper BNegao and musicians Seu Jorge and Maris Monte.

Brazil’s two-time Olympic sailing champion Robert Scheidt and Beijing 2008 long jump gold medallist Maurren Maggi will greet the performers at the end of the show.

It is also part of the ceremony which the Olympic flag is officially handed over to the next host city who invite the world to visit them. The main themes of the performance are based around entertainment, cultural diversity, the contagious energy of the Brazilian people and an invitation to Rio.

A range of different dances, bands of drummers and colourful costumes, will be part of the Rio 2016 show which will include 225 volunteer dancers who are based in Europe.

Rehearsals have been taking place once a week over the past eight months.

There will be no cliches and many representations of Brazilian culture, said executive producer Marco Balich.

London 2012 Olympics: What you really want at closing ceremony – the Spice Girls